Backband



T. M. DOBSON.

BACKBAND.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 18, I920- Patented Jan. 31, 1922.

UNITED stares arise.

A. l" E N T HOMAS M. reason, or RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

BACKBAND.

Application filed December 18, 1920. Serial No. 431,615.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS M. DOBSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Chesterfield and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Backhand, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to back bands, one of its objects being to provide a back band utilizing round pads mounted for rotation and which are'free not only to rotate but also to rock so as to automatically adjust themselves to the body of the animal to which the back band is applied, thereby re-' ducing the friction to a minimum and preventing the skids from becoming folded or crinkled under the pads and producing irritation.

A further object is to provide a back band which is cool and comfortable to the animal and is readily adjustable to animals of different sizes.

Another object is to provide a back band the side chains of which cannot be disconnected by jolting such as caused by the animal trotting.

Another object is to provide a back band having antifriction means for guiding the plow lines and also having special means for engaging the traces.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that, within the scope of what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is'an elevation of the back band.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a metal strip bent at the center to form a substantially V-shaped saddle to the side members of which are attached circular pads 2 formed of wood,

metal or the like. These pads are connected to the strip by screws 3 or similar devices extending loosely through the strip and capable of rotating in the strip and which allow the pads to have a limited rocking movement relative to the strip 1.

Each end portion of the strip 1 has an arcuate slot extending thereinto from one edge, as shown at 4L and opening into another arcuate slot 5 curved oppositely to the slot hthus providing an elongated slot of tortuous or irregular contour having an intermediate stop or projection G at the point of communication between the portions 4 and 5 of the slot. Side chains 7 are provided at the ends of the strip 1 and any one of the makes of each chain is adapted to be inserted into the slots in one end of the strip 1, it being obvious that when a link is seated in the lower end of the slot, as shown for example in Figure 2, it will be impossible for the chain to be jolted upwardly out of the slot. The only way in which the chain can be removed is by swinging it laterally and shifting it around the projection 6 and thence outwardly through the portion 1.

The lower end of each chain 7 is connected to a loop 8 formed at the upper end of a strip of metal, said loop being provided in its lower portion with an antifriction roller 9. The lower end of the strip 10 is bent upwardly and inwardly to provide a hook 11 for engaging one of the traces. A circular pad 12 is mounted on the inner side of the strip 10 and is connected thereto by a screw 13 or the like passing loosely through openings in the strip 10 whereby the pad is free to rotate and also has a limited tilting move ment relative to the strip 10.

It is to be understood that the strip 1 can be bent to any desired angle so as to properly fit the back of the animal to which the band is applied and the chains 7 can also.

be adjusted to bring any desired links into engagement with the ends of the strip 1, thereby to support the pads 12 at the de sired height. When the back band is properly adjusted and applied the pads 2, by reason of their tiltable and rotatable connections with the strip 1, will tend to iron out or flatten the skin if crinkled under the pads and these pads will also tend to follow the movement of that portion of the body contacted thereby so that friction will be reduced to the minimum and the back band can. be worn with greater comfort than devicesheretofore employed. The same action occurs where the side pads 12 contact with the body.

It will be noted that the device is very strong and durable and will overcome practically all of the trouble heretofore experienced with the back bands of this general type.

What is claimed is:

1. A back band including a top strip having downwardly diverging end portions, a tiltable and rotatable pad connected to each side portion ofsaid stripi'or contact with the body of the animal, side strips, adjustable flexible connections between said side strips and the ends of the top strips, and revoluble and tiltable pads carried by the side strips for contacting with the sides of the body of the animal.

2. A back band including a top strip having its side portions diverging downwardly, circular pads tiltably and rotatably connected to the side portions of said strip for contacting with the body of an animal, side C. C. GREEN, C. J. FISHER. 

